Hypodermic jet injector



2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct.

July 11, 1967 i R, GORDON 3,330,273

HYPODERMIC JET INJECTOR Filed OCt. 7, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www QZ. WMM

United States Patent 3,330,276 HYPODERMIC JET INJECTOR John R. Gordon, Grosse Pointe, Mich., assigner to R. P. Scherer Corporation, Detroit, Mich. Filed Oct. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 314,146 2 Claims. (Cl. 12S-173) This invention relates to a manually operated hypodennic jet injector capable of administering successive injections of a liquid medicament Vthrough the epidermis. In some respects, this invention is similar to the multi-dose injector of Alfred W. Kath set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 271,205, and in other respects it is similar -to the single dose injector of Anthony Venditty, set forth in U.S, Patent No. 2,762,370.

Although the advantages of using hypodermic jet injectors rather than hypodermic needles are well-known, utilization by potential users, as by diabetics or pediatricians, is reduced due to relatively high costs of the medicament in ampule form or of the instrument itself. As a specific example, most diabetics continue to use hypodermic needles for -administering insulin to themselves because of such high costs. In the case of a single-dose jet injector, similar to that set forth in U.S. Patent No. 2,762,370, ampules are used; although the instrument itself is relatively inexpensive, the required insulin dosage in ampule form costs approximately six Atimes more than the cost of administering the insulin by a hypodermic needle. Also, in the case of a multi-dose jet injector, similar to that set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 271,205, although the medicament is stored in a bott-le in liquid form and not in ampule form, the cost of the instrument itself is quite high.

Furthermore, in the case lof the multi-dose injectors, where the medicament is stored in the relatively inexpensive liquid form, the use of insulin presents `a problem since in presently used long-acting insulin, such as Lente, PZI, and NPI-I, the insulin is mixed with a protein to provide a suspension, rather than a solution. In such suspensions, particles settle out of the suspension and are likely to cause clogging of the channels through which the insulin passes; also, lthere is a problem of the formation of crystals, which also canse clogging of the channels. Therefore, particularly in the case of insulin, it is highly important that the channels conducting insulin from the storage bottle or container to the medicament discharge chamber be constructed in such a manner that clogging thereof is substantially avoided.

lt is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a hypodermic jet injector capable -of storing a quantity of liquid medicament in bulk form while providing an injector of relatively inexpensive construction.

It is another object of this invention to provide a hypodermic jet injector which is mechanically loaded and operated for each injection Iand which is also capable of applying successive injections of medicament without separate loading of medicament for each injection.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a -multidose jet injector particularly adapted for administering insulin.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a jet injector particularly adapted for the injection of insulin, wherein a quantity of linsulin is stored in a bottle, and the channel from the bottle to the medicament discharge chamber is substantially straight, of minimum length and of substantially uniform cross-section, to thereby subst-antially reduce the possibility of clogging of the channel by particles settling out of the insulin suspension.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a multi-dose jet injector particularly convenient to manipuice late either by a person administering medicament to oneself or to another.

Further purposes and objects of this invention will -appear as the specification proceeds.

A particular embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of my hypodermic jet injector;

FIGURE 2 is a view taken Ialong the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along the line 3--3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, partially sectioned view of the discharge end of the hypodermic jet injector of FIG- URE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view, on a reduced scale, taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 4.

Referring to the drawings, my hypodermic jet injector, generally indicated by lthe numeral 10, has the general appearance of an elongated body which includes a mechanism housing 12 that is enclosed at the forward end by a front sleeve 14, which is threadably connected thereto. At the opposite or rear end of the housing 12, a winding sleeve 16 is rotatably connected to the mechanism housing 12. The sleeve 16 includes an inturned flange 18, which cooperates with the annular ridge 20 of the housing 12 in `order to prevent longitudinal movement between the housing 12 and the sleeve 16.

A latch housing 22, which also serves as a bearing support for thrust bearing 24 is threaded into the rear end of the winding sleeve 16. The thrust bearing 24 is interposed between the latch housing 22 and the mechanism housing 12 in order to permit relative rotation between the parts. A release button cap 26 is securely fastened to the winding sleeve 16 by means of a conventional nonreversible, bayonet type connection. The cap 26, the winding sleeve 16, and the late-h housing 22 are -all rotatable together, the sleeve 16 being locked to the housing 22 by means of a key 28 which ts into the slot 30 provided in the housing 22 and the sleeve 16.

The mechanism housing 12 is locked to the forward sleeve 14 in order to prevent rotation therebetween by means of a latch 32, which is adapted to t into a series of longitudinal slots 34 provided in the inner surface of the sleeve 14. A spring 36 biases the latch 32 outwardly. The mechanism housing 12 includes a series of blind, axially extending openings 38 which are spaced circumferentially in the housing 12. Although single springs may be inserted into the openings 38, the springs are preferably used in pairs, the internal springs 40 being of a smaller diameter and of opposite helix to the external springs 42. Pins 44 are located concentrically of the springs 4i) and 42 and extend through the openings 38 in order to prevent the buckling of the springs 40 and 42 within the openings 38. The forward ends of the springs seat in recesses 46 provided in the nut 48, the recesses 46 being concentric with the openings 38.

The nut 48 includes a sleeve-like extension 50, which projects rearwardly in the bore 52 of the housing 12; the extension 50 is prevented from rotational movement Within the mechanism housing 12 by suitable means, as a key (not shown). The extension 50 is internally threaded and is adapted to threadably receive the lifting screw 54. Thus, upon rotation -of the screw 54, the nut 48 is pulled rearwardly to thereby compress the springs 40 and 42 and load the injector 10.

A latch mechanism is provided for locking the lifting screw S4 against axial movement until such time as the springs 40 and 42 are released for injecting the medicament. Latch Wedges 58 project through the openings 60 provided in the latch housing 22 and are adapted to engage the fins 62 at the rear end of the lifting screw 54.

' The release button 56 includes an inwardly turned flange to the slope on the bottom of the wedges 58, they move outwardly into the groove 66, to thereby release the lifting screw 54. Y

The internal threads at the upper end of the nut 48 threadably receive a ram 72 having an extended forward portion 74; the forward portion 74 is provided with a.

borer76 which is adapted to slidably receive the split Y shank 78 of the plunger 80'. The plunger'head 82 is slidablerwithin the medicament chamber 84 of the valve housing member 86. In order to prevent a back-flow of medicament, an O-ring 88 is provided on the plunger head 82 for sealingagainst the inner surfaces of the chamber 84. Also, a groove 90 is provided in the valve housing 86 in orderto Vreceive a stop ring 92 which is adapted to abut theY flange 93 on the plunger 80 for preventing further rearward travelrof the plunger 80 while permitting ful'-V V ther rearward movement of the ram 72. Y

. The valve'housing member 86 is an elongated body and 'is adapted tolthreadably engage the forward end of the' forward sleeve 14 and, at'its opposite end, receives the.

discharge nose 94, which includes a medicament Ydischarge orifice 96. The discharge nose is protectively covered by a cap 97. The forward Vend of the member 86 includes a recess 98 Lwhich isadapted to receiveV a gasket or O-ring 100 for providing a pressure tight seal between therdischarge nose 94Vand the member 86. Y Y

VAs illustrated most clearly in FIGURES .4 and the member 86 includes a tranverse aperture 102 which is adapted to rotatably receive a cylindrical valvemember 104. CentrallyY of the Vvalve member 104, there is provided a T-shaped opening 106 having a main channel 107 and a branch channel 108.V The -channel 108 is Valignable with the bore 110 which is forward of the medicament Vchamber 84. The mainY channel 107, inone position, is

adapted to be aligned with the inlet 112 in the upper end of the member 86, and in a 90 rotated positionY is alignable with both the bore 110 and the front port 156 in the housing V86 and is adapted to permit the flow of medicament from the medicament chamber 84 to the discharge orifice 9,6. A counter-bore 114 is provided above the in`V let 112 for receiving'an O-ring 116 in order to provide a i' seal between the member V86 and the bottle support member-'118. The inlet 112 and the connecting'counter-bore 114'form a cavity which interconnects the main channel 107 and channel defined in the needle 124 in a minimum straight line distance to further facilitate flow and prevent clogging and crystallization of the medicament.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 5, the top sideV of.V

thefvalve housing 86 includes a attened upper Vsurface for carrying the support member 118. The support 118 is secured to the Vflattened surface by means of screws 120 or yother suitable fasteners. The bottle support member '118 includes an opening 122 which is adapted to support the straight hollow needle 124.'The needle 124 is inserted into the cap 126 of the medicament bottle 128. In this regard, it is important to note that the hollow needle 124 provides'a straight channel having a substantially uniform cross-section for the fiow of medicament from the a bottle 128 directly to the valve member 104, which communicates with the Vmedicament chamber 84. Thus, the

tals or particles, which drop out of suspension, is substan- V tially eliminated since bends, Y turns, and restrictions, wherein clogging is likely to occur, are avoided. Also, the

channel from the bottle 128 to the valve 104 is of mini- Y possibilityY of clogging or blocking the channel with crys- Y n,V mum length and this also contributes to the substantial elimination of the clogging of flow channels.

Of further importance, the bottle 128 is tipped rearwardly from its vertical axis in order that it does not interfere with the injecting operation, while at the same time Y is suiciently forward so that it Vdoes not interfere with the winding or loading operation ofthe injector.

The bottle support member includes a rearwardly extending air filter support portion 129. A tubular member 130 is secured to the filter support portion 129 and interiorly carries a hollow plug 132. The plug 132, at itsV upper end, ycarries an air filter memberV 134. The lower end of the hollow plug 132 supports an air tube 136 which is located concentrically of the tube 130 and is received within an opening providedin theY rear portion 129.'A

vent tube 138'is directed intothe air tube 136 from the; Y' medicament bottle 128; the vent tube is located adjacent to the hollow needle 124 and opens into the bottle 128.

Thus, as medicament is released, it is replaced by filtered air.

A resilient support pad 140 is interposed between the bottle support member 118 and the cap 126 of the bottle 128; furthermore, at the upper end of the bottle 128, a resilient support member 142 is carried on a shaft 144 which is mounted on an arm 146.'The` arm 146 in turn is -iixe'd to the tube 148 which is slidably positioned around the tube 130. The tube 148 includes an elongated longitudinal slot 150 which is adapted to engage a rivet 150, which is secured to the hollow plug member 132 to thereby avoid rotation of the arm 146, "while permitting axial movement thereof. Thus, Vby axial adjustment of the tube 148, the support member 148 may be positioned firmly against the bottomY of the;bottle 128, whereby the z bottle is securely maintained Yin position between the resilient supports 140 and 142.

In the operation of the injector `Y10,.ass11mingV that me dicament has just been discharged, the valve member 104 is rotated from the position of FIGUREV 1 to the position of FIGURE 4, so that there is communication from the bottle 128 to the medicament chamber 84. The'va-lve member 104 is rotated by an exterior handle 154 which is secured to it. TheV winding sleeve 16 isV turned in a counterclockwise direction in order to move the lifting screw 54 rearwardly. As the end of the screw 54 contacts and compresses the spring 68, therelease button 56 moves rearwardly and the wedges 58 are forced out of the groove 66. The wedges'58 then move underneath the fins 62 of the lifting screw 54 in order to latch. the screw 54. At this time, thespring 68 snapsthe release button '56 to theZ i loading position.

The winding sleeve 16 is then rotated'in a clockwise direction in order to turn the screw 54 in the Ysleeve 50Y and to thereby move the nut 48 rearwardly and compress the springs 40 and Y42. As the nut 48 moves rearwardly,

the ram 72 and plunger 80 also move rearwardly, the movement of the plunger 80 being stopped Iby the ring 92. As therplunger 80 moves rearwardly, medicament ows from the bottle 126,Y through the straight channel 124 and the valve 104, and finally into the chamber 84;` the ow of medicament is unobstructed by deposits in the channel 124. When the desired amountY of loading 1 f is attained, as in the position of FIGURE l, the winding" is stopped and the valve 104 isrrotat'ed to the position of FIGURE 1 whereby themain channel is aligned with theV Y medicament chamber 84 Yand thefront port Y156 in the valvehousing 86. The injector 10 is then ready to Vinjectthe medicament.' Upon pressing the button 56, the lifting Y screw 54 is rnovedV forwardly, thereby moving the wedges 58 into the groove 66; thisreleasesV the lifting screw-54.;

as well as the nut 48,'-the ram 72 and the plunger 80.

Also, the rearwardly tipped position of the bottle V126 j contributes to ease of loading and also to ease of injecting since it is out of the way during both operations.

As shown most clearly in FIGURE 4, upon release Y' of the liftingrscrew 54, the ram 72 .moves forwardly a short distance Y before there is actual movement of the plunger 80. The free movement of the ram 72 in this distance provides a high impact force in order to provide an initial high pressure sucient to penetrate the epidermis and provide an opening through which the medicament may pass. Upon moving the distance Y, the impact force is dissipated, reducing the pressure at which the medicament is discharged through the epidermis.

lt is clear from the foregoing that all of the objects have been accomplished. The injector is of relatively inexpensive and simple construction and is particularly adaptable for use by diabetics who require periodic and frequent injections of insulin. The injector 10 combines advantages of a single-dose injector with advantages of a multi-dose injector since the relatively inexpensive construction of a single-dose injector is adapted for injections directly from a medicament bottle rather than from ampules. Furthermore, a straight and relatively short flow channel of substantially uniform cross-section is provided for the ow of medicament from the bottle to the valve member, thereby substantially avoiding clogging of the flow channel. This is particularly important in the case of insulin, which ltends to precipitate solids which cause blocking of small openings. Also, the position of the medicament bottle is such that interference with the loading and injecting operations is substantially avoided.

While in the foregoing there has been provided a detailed description of a particular embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that all equivalents obvious to those having skill in the art are to Ibe included within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. A hypodermic jet injector comprising an injector body with a medicament discharge oriiice at one end, a chamber for medicament in the body spaced from said orifice, a medicament container having a pierceable cap secured to said body, a valve in said body between said chamber and discharge orifice for selectively directing medicament from the container to the chamber or communicating the chamber with said orice and power means communicating with the chamber yfor selectively propelling medicament from the chamber through said orice; said injector body having 4a flattened surface thereon above the valve, elongated bore means in said body perpendicular to said flattened surface communieating with said valve, a counter-bore at the outer end of ysaid Ibore means, -compressible seal means in said counterbore, a container-support having fiat face means clamped against said flattened surface and said seal means, a straight tubular member carried Iby said container-support with one end of the tubular member opening directly into said bore means and the other end of the tubular member extending outwardly of the container-support, and a resilient pad on said containersupport surrounding said tubular member as it emerges from said container-support, the capped end of said container being pierced by said tubular member and resting against said resilient pad.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the container-support is shaped to incline the resilient pad to face in a direction away from the end of the injector body vat which the discharge oriiice is located.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,705,953 4/1955 Potez 128-173 2,821,193 1/1958 Zihel'l et al. 128-173 3,130,723 4/1964 Venditty et al. 12S-173 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,049,564 8/ 1953 France.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT E. MORGAN, Examiner. 

1. A HYPODERMIC JET INJECTOR COMPRISING AN INJECTOR BODY WITH A MEDICAMENT DISCHARGE ORIFICE AT ONE END, A CHAMBER FOR MEDICAMENT IN THE BODY SPACED FROM SAID ORIFICE, A MEDICAMENT CONTAINER HAVING A PIERCEABLE CAP SECURED TO SAID BODY, A VALVE IN SAID BODY BETWEEN SAID CHAMBER AND DISCHARGE ORIFICE FOR SELECTIVELY DIRECTING MEDICAMENT FROM THE CONTAINER TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMUNICATING THE CHAMBER WITH THE CHAMBER FOR SELECTIVELY MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH THE CHAMBER FOR SELECTIVELY PROPELLING MEDICAMENT FROM THE CHAMBER THROUGH SAID ORIFICE; SAID INJECTOR BODY HAVING A FLATTENED SURFACE THEREON ABOVE THE VALVE, ELONGATED BORE MEANS IN SAID BODY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID FLATTENED SURFACE COMMUNICATING WITH SAID VALVE, A COUNTER-BORE AT THE OUTER END OF SAID BORE MEANS, COMPRESSIBLE SEAL MEANS IN SAID COUNTERBORE, A CONTAINER-SUPPORT HAVING FLAT FACE MEANS CLAMPED AGAINST SAID FLATTENED SURFACE AND SAID SEAL MEANS, A STRAIGHT TUBULAR MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID CONTAINER-SUPPORT WITH ONE END OF THE TUBULAR MEMBER OPENING DIRECTLY INTO SAID BORE MEANS AND THE OTHER END OF THE TUBULAR MEMBER EXTENDIING OUTWARDLY OF THE CONTAINER-SUPPORT, AND A RESILIENT PAD ON SAID CONTAINERSUPPORT SURROUNDING SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AS IT EMERGES FROM SAID CONTAINER-SUPPORT, THE CAPPED END OF SAID CONTAINER BEING PIERCED BY SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND RESTING AGAINST SAID RESILIENT PAD. 